What am I doing here, I don’t mean in an existential way, I mean why am I here on WordPress. I had a blog on MyTelegraph, mainly because that was the only blogsite I could understand at first. I have worked as a journalist, and stopped writing, having become rather bored with the whole business. Also so many people want their names in print, that freelance journalists were being offered fairly derisory fees.
After a while though, I began to miss writing, and I thought a blog would be a way of keeping that discipline going. I didn’t really expect anyone to read it, and the first comments were a lovely surprise.
MyT could be fun, but it was also a place where a lot of very angry people spent a lot of their time. So, along with a number of others I decamped to WordPress.
I like animals, cooking, talking, eating, writing, walking, laughing, reading, taking photographs, being on my boat, being with my cat, being with my friends, making mosaics, great theatre, Outnumbered, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Exile on Main Street, Pachabel’s Canon.
And much more.
I don’t like crowded buses and trains, queueing, butchers’ shops, alarm clocks, loud voices or being kept awake by other people’s music and televisions. Nor do I like Dan Brown books, Big Brother, high heels, minimalism, nationalism, racism, driving fast, airports, Eastenders.
I am Isobel, and Cat is Cat. This was going to be Isobel’s Blog, but that name had already been taken, so while I do most of the typing, with occasional help, much the blog is about Cat, who tends to be something of a scene stealer.
He’s getting on a bit, born in 1994, but still, as you’ll see from the many photos of him posted here, a very handsome animal, or as he’s sometimes called, Ridiculously Handsome Boy.
Cat died on 20th March. It was his heart. I miss him more than words can say. He was a wonderful boy with a huge character and I was very lucky that he adopted me.
Not Cat is the new feline in my life and on this blog. He’s only a baby, around a year or so old; a bundle of ginger fur and mischief. He is just leaving his kittenhood behind, and this is at least his third home in his short life. He’s settling well and we are getting to know each other.
Your About page is now visible.
Isn’t Cat handsome and very, very comfortable!
Isn’t he just!
hello Isobel – and Cat, and now Not Cat:
you have been visiting my fledgling photo blog a fair bit lately – which has been very encouraging, and i thank you for it – and i thought i should visit your spot in cyberspace as well. and i love what i have seen of your blog so far. am bookmarking your site.
was very sorry to hear about your loss of Cat – and also thrilled to read about Not Cat. I actually saw Not Cat in action with the recycling bag – which was delightful – however that post got away from me before i had a chance to leave a comment.
in any event, do keep up the great work. i will definitely be back.
Chris
Nice to see you here too. and now I look at my About page, I think it’s probably time soon to update it.
Thank you for following my blog. I’ve been a bit quiet recently as I’m on holiday and blogging is not top of my list of things to do! I return tomorrow though and have some great tales to tell and photos to show. I will enjoy reading your blog too
Now I know all the story. I’m so very sorry about the Cat
Does Not Cat know his name already?
He answers mainly to Munchkin, but yes I think he does know his name, or maybe it’s just the tone of voice I use when I call him. Not Cat is his online name. Cat’s real name was Freddy the Gorgeous Boy, Freddy for everyday wear, and only revealed here after he died. I did put a post up about the myriad names he had. http://isobelandcat.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/where-next/
I’m not sure if Not Cat’s privacy is going to be similarly protected.
So sorry to hear about your loss of Cat. Hard to lose a loved one. It seems as if Not Cat is a part of the next phase of your journey. Sounds a lot like mine…loss of Maggie gaining Miss Stella. Look forward to reading more here.
Sorry to hear about Cat
losing animals is so difficult especially when they are inspirational and comforting but new ones do find a way of nudging into our lives. TWO nudged into mine! I will be sure to check back often and see how the both of you are doing 
I should update this page. Not Cat deserves more than his two and a half lines, and I think there could be a lot less about me!
I still miss Cat, which is not to say that I don’t love Not Cat. I do. He is a darling, and a worthy successor to Cat.
I was instructed to respond to the Dinky Pony’s Snooty Lawyers at this site. I’m not exactly sure where to do so, and this seemed as good as spot as any. To refresh everyone’s memory, this is an excerpt from the correspondence I received from said Snooty Lawyers:
“Before…Mr Dinky Pony, accepts your job offer, he needs to see a copy of the contract. He also only ever travels first class in a small but perfectly formed horsebox which he would expect you to maintain. A cardboard box would not have the facilities he requires for a long journey.
In order better to understand your ambitions, please name the famous cats in history whose achievements you mean to exceed. Mr Dinky and I have a knowledge of famous equines from Caligula’s steed to Eeyore, but we are largely ignorant of their feline equivalents…”
And my response:
Sirs,
Listed in no particular order, the celebrity cats whose fame I will exceed include but are not limited to: Maru (naturally), Socks Clinton, Sockington, Garfield, Surprise Kitty, Morris, Keyboard Cat, Scarlett, Felix, Oscar (creepy), Mr. Bigglesworth, Montecore (scary), Cat, Not Cat, Mojo Cat, Leo the Lion, and Tama.
All internships and paid positions are considered “at will”, so Mr. Einstein will not be bound contractually. And neither will I. Mr. Einstein is allowed to travel in any manner his Dinky Pony heart desires, providing his Dinky Pony heart pays for such travel.
Respectfully yours,
Pedro the Cat
soon to be most famous cat in history
Hmmm, so no mention of Six Dinner Sid, Simon’s Cat, Bagpuss or the extremely fat cat who used to preside over the loos at St Pancras railway station; Muezza, Mohamed’s favourite cat; or even Charles Dickens’ cat Bob or Samuel Johnson’s cat Hodge; or indeed Edward Lears’ cat foss who inspired, it is said, The Owl and the Pussycat. Garfield is, in our less than humble opinion, an over-rated, over-exposed apology for a cat who has only his colouring to recommend him. Indeed, most of the felines you list are unknown to Us, apart from, obviously, Cat and Not Cat whose fame precedes them.
Incidentally, the name of this firm is not Snooty.
It sounds as though you are looking for a freebie as we believe it is vulgarly known. We could not advise our client to travel, at his own cost, to a post that seems – you will forgive the plainspeaking – to offer him little if anything in terms of his wellbeing and advancement and free labour for you.
Yours etc
Dear Snooty Lawyers,
Snooty is an adjective. It is synonymous with snotty, persnickety, elitist, snobbish, and one that you might understand but that makes no sense to me – toffee-nosed.
I would have thought that the Dinky Pony’s legal team would be paid well enough to get their noses out of the toffee and research famous cats a bit. I’m sure Einstein would be surprised to hear that you failed to unearth cats of such standing as the Clinton Administration’s First Cat, Animal Planet’s Cutest Kitty, Austin Power’s kitty, the kitty that attacked Roy, and Mojo.
As Six Dinner Sid and Bagpuss were mentioned in your original response, I didn’t feel the need to list them. Garfield is indeed over-rated and over-exposed, and he is also over-paid. My guess is that his career-long gross income has far exceeded the total gross incomes of all cats you’ve listed combined. As a businesscat, it is only natural that I use Garfield’s career as a positive example and his wealth as a goal.
I would advise you to do a bit more research before advising your client on much of anything, as I’m sure he would be disappointed to learn how little research you actually did for the amount of billable hours I’m sure you logged.
Aloha,
Pedro the Cat
world’s savviest businesscat
Ok, you can have him.
It’s a deal.
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Hi you have a double award because I’ve also nominated you for the Versatile blog!
http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/awards-update-part-two/
You are very kind. Thank you so much!
Isobel, for your beautiful photography, writing and love, I pass on the versatile blogger award to you
http://mellifluousmurmurs.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/with-love-to-you/
Just seen your current reading, I read half of The Help then made the mistake of seeing the film and it spoilt if for me – should have finished the book first!
Barbara Kingsolver is brilliant! Have you ever read Rohinton Mistry? i have a feeling you would enjoy A Fine Balance.
Is the film good? I have finished the book. It exceeded my expectations. I haven’t heard of Rohinton Mistry. thansk for the tip!
I enjoy your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Blog Award. Enjoy! http://afternoonpopcornsnack.com/2012/05/19/1696/
You don’t need these tips on photographing cats but when I saw this title in the email I wanted to tell you that you and Not Cat came to mind. I know they aren’t going to tell you anything you don’t already know.
http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/cat-photography/